Intracranial and maxillofacial abscesses originating from the temporomandibular joint with rheumatoid arthritis : A case report

Park, Jun; Hong, Ki-Eun; Yun, Ji-Eon; Shin, Eun-Sup; Kim, Chul-Hoon; Kim, Bok-Joo; Kim, Jung-Han

doi:2021.59.12.725

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 59(12); 2021 > Article

CASE REPORT

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2021;59(12):725-733.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2021.59.12.003 Published online November 30, 2021.

류마티스 관절염이 있는 측두하악관절에서 유래된 두개내 및 악안면 농양 : 증례보고

박 준

동아대학교 의과대학 구강악안면외과학교실

Intracranial and maxillofacial abscesses originating from the temporomandibular joint with rheumatoid arthritis : A case report

Jun Park

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, Dong-A University

Correspondence: Jung-Han Kim, Tel: +82-51-240-5475, Fax: +82-51-241-5475,
Email: omfsjhkim@dau.ac.kr

Received: 23 August 2021 • Revised: 29 September 2021 • Accepted: 6 October 2021

Abstract

The incidence of intracranial brain abscess originating from the oral and maxillofacial infection is rare. However, brain abscesses have been reported in immunocompromised patients, which may cause neurological sequelae with high mortality. Early diagnosis of brain abscess and intensive antibiotic treatment can reduce the mortality rate. However, as a clinician, early diagnosis is difficult, and there are limitations in the use of antibiotics. Odontogenic infection can be diagnosed and treated early using clinical examination and dental radiographs. Although the temporomandibular joint is an area that den-tists are in charge of, it is difficult to diagnose an infection, and there is a possibility that it may develop into a brain abscess. The purpose of this report is to review the case of temporomandibular joint infection and secondary maxillofacial and brain abscesses in a 61-year-old female patient with systemic rheumatoid arthritis, and to report the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of brain abscess as a clinician.

Key Words: Brain abscess; temporomandibular joint infection; rheumatoid arthritis; vancomycin